Antibody Storage
Overview:
Because antibodies have evolved to retain activity in a wide range of biological conditions, antibody storage is relatively straightforward in comparison to other proteins. The biggest issue to avoid is repeated freeze/thaw cycles.
Short-term Storage of Serum:
For short-term storage of the working antibody or of serum that has recently arrived, 2-3 weeks at 4°C is recommended.
Long-term Storage of Serum:
For long-term storage, we recommend storing the serum vials at -20°C, which is sufficient for several years. Storage at -80°C is preferable if storing for very long periods of time.
Storage of Purified Antibody:
The purified antibody should be aliquoted into working quantities and stored according to the guidelines above. To avoid additional freeze/thaw cycles, we recommend aliquots that can be used in a 2-3 week period.
Freeze/Thaw Cycles:
The biggest threat to antibody stability is repeated freeze/thaw cycles. To avoid this, we recommend storing ready-to-use aliquots of the antibody and thawing aliquots only as they are needed. We also recommend the use of manual defrost freezers rather than frostless freezers.
Sodium Azide:
Sodium Azide is an antimicrobial agent that prevents the growth of bacteria in the serum or purified antibody. We don't add this to the serum by default, but can add it at no additional charge if specified. Azide is automatically added to the purified antibody and column to avoid contamination. It is important to note that sodium azide is not recommended for some applications. In particular, sodium azide blocks the cytochrome electron transport system, making it toxic to most organisms. However, azide can be dialyzed out of the serum if necessary.
Glycerol:
The addition of glycerol is a preferential issue, but not necessary if the above guidelines and aliquot strategies are followed.